Summary
The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger is true story that takes place in the Atlantic Ocean and Gloucester, Massachusetts. The book is about a ship and crew that lost their lives on the ocean to a storm. Composed in the book are stories of ships and crewmen told by Junger that are stories that he had heard and from his point of view. In the beginning he describes all the main characters and ties in love for loved ones and fishing. The main characters were Billy Tyne, the captain, Bobby Shatford, Chris Cotter, Bobby's fiancé, Dale Murphy, David Sullivan known as Sully, and Michael Moran who is called Bugsy. An indirect character was Ethel, who bar tends at the Crow's Nest, where most of the men spend their time and money at. It is 1991 and the men go out at sea for about a months’ time to fish and come home to their loved ones for only a week at a time making a couple thousand dollars each trip. The ships name is the Andrea Gail. The crew had little to nothing in common with one another besides fishing and making money.
Throughout the book Junger tells stories about other boats and their misfortunes with the ocean. He foreshadows the dangers of the Flemish Cap (a great sword fishing spot). Throughout the story, Junger describes the men and their families. Billy, captain of the Andrea Gail takes his crew to Flemish Cap; this one last time on the ocean to catch a huge amount of fish and make enough money to settle the crews’ debts. On the return home the ship is hit by Hurricane Grace. The captain puts his and his crews’ lives at risk and tried to push through the storm. The Andrea Gail decided to take on the storm by sailing right through the eye of it, rather than sitting and waiting it out. The moral of the story is that man should not challenge nature. The conflict of man and nature ends in fatality, leaving all loved ones behind.
Analysis
To start off Junger is a great author. Some parts that I disliked in the beginning were some of the stories he told of other ships and crews. He told a story from someone on a different vessel that hitched a ride home with the Andrea Gail. I found this to be information that was unnecessary. It was interesting but a part that I could have not read that would not have affected my reading. One thing I noticed about Junger’s writing is how he jumps from the main story, to past stories. At times it got confusing when you were near the end of October in the book. I got some of the past stories he was telling mixed up in what was happening in the Andrea Gail.
I really liked how Junger told other stories of how ships took on storms or waited storms out. His use of foreshadowing was very effective. It also gave me reasoning for captains to either wait a storm out or try to push through it. Both could be dangerous but choosing which one will save your life wasn’t always an easy choice. He was very good at expressing the dangers of the ocean. Especially when he described the men leaving, and how hard it was to leave their loved ones because the risk is almost unbearable.
Junger’s attention to detail made the book easy to picture. His description of the Crow’s Nest and rooms in the Inn were so detailed that you could image being there. Junger seems to be very intelligent and knows a lot about fishing boats. His terminology was hard to follow because I am not a fisherman, but he did a great job using more words and detailed descriptions for the reader to understand exactly what the boat looked like. He did a good job in explaining all the possible ways for a crew man to die especially in storm like conditions.
A great part of the book was where Junger allowed the reader to identify the importance of money in the crew men’s lives. Even though they knew the trip could be dangerous they still took the risk because the after profit would have been worth it all. Also part of this, Junger did a good job explaining the characters. I felt like all the important characters were well rounded and gave a good twist for Billy. Junger explained Billy to be an experienced captain, but still lead his crew right into the storms, ending all of their lives.
A big part I had a problem with was when the crew died and he explained their death. It might have had to do with him jumping from past to present stories but I found it difficult to understand. He did a great job explaining how the boat was in dangerous waters and the effects that could come from the storm. Next he did a good job explaining the drowning aspect, which took the Andrea Gail crew. But when it came to all the effects happening right before and after he lacked. I know this is a lack of information because he was not on the Andrea Gail this night to know this information but it was hard for me to understand.
Overall there is not much I did not like about the book. This is an amazing and sad story.
Appraisal
Overall I thought the book was amazing. It was one of those books that I just could not put down. To be honest I have seen the movie, which is why I chose this book. I have always said and will say for this book, the book is better than the movie. Junger was able to keep the book in an intense and dramatic feeling. Emotionally he was able to explain the characters love, fear and lost so that I could feel it myself. Junger’s writing was able to keep me focused on what was happening in the book but able to make my mind think ahead from his foreshadowing. The book was very detailed which made it easier to read. He jumped from the story of the Andrea Gail to stories of other ships and fatalities. Some parts were difficult to read but it kept you interested in what was coming next. Junger explained things that were happening in so much detail that it was easy to picture. I have never been on a fishing boat like the Andrea Gail. He explained it so well that I feel like I have toured one. It was a very sad book that I knew was going to end in death of the crew and the ship but Junger told it in a third person but also limited to detailed view. It was very forward and just an amazing sad story.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes lost love or drama stories. Junger’s attention to detail makes the story much more interesting and easy to read. Throughout the story the drama and intense feeling adds up which keeps you reading. Even though it was a sad ending, I knew it was coming and that the Hurricane would win the battle of the ship and crew.
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